Air compressor

ABSTRACT

A POWERED SHAFT HAVING A PROPELLER, DRAWS AIR INTO A PASSAGEWAY THROUGH WHICH THE SHAFT EXTENDS AND THE PASSAGEWAY HAS AN OUTLET IN COMMUNICATION WITH A COMPRESSED AIR CHAMBER. AIR IS MOVED THROUGH THE PASSAGEWAY OUTLET BY AN AIR TRANSFER MEANS WHICH INCLUDES A STATIONARY PLATE HAVING CIRCULARLY ARRANGED TEETH COVERED BY A PLATE ON THE SHAFT WHICH INCLUDES A ROTATABLE GEAR REGISTERING WITH THE TEETH. AN OPENING THROUGH THE TWO PLATES COMMUNICATES AT TIMES WITH AT LEAST ONE OF THE TEETH CAVITIES WHICH IS SEALED AS THE ROTATABLE PLATE MOVES OVER THE CAVITY WHEREUPON IT IS THEN EXPOSED TO THE COMPRESSED AIR CHAMBER AND FORCED OUT BY THE TEETH ON THE GEAR WHICH THEN LEAVES A VACUUM IN THE CAVITIES TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL AIR FROM THE OPENING COMMUNICATING WITH THE PASSAGEWAY WHEREUPON THE CYCLE IS REPEATED. THE AIR MAY BE TOTALLY DRAWN INTO THE PASSAGEWAY BY THE PROPELLER OR MAY ENTER AS A RESULT OF EXTERNAL PRESSURES FOR WHICH APPROPRIATE INLET OPENINGS ARE PROVIDED. A FLYWHEEL MAY ALSO BE PROVIDED ON THE POWERED SHAFT TO ASSIST IN THE ROTATION THEREOF AND IN THE SEALING OF THE ROTATABLE PLATE. VANES MAY ALSO BE PROVIDED ON THE POWERED SHAFT IN THE OUTLET OPENING OF THE COMPRESSED AIR CHAMBER TO FURTHER ASSIST IN THE TURNING OF THE SHAFT AS AIR IS RELEASED FROM THE CHAMBER.

June 6, 1972 RICHTER 3,667,866

AIR COMPRESSOR Filed March 4,- 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I III I lJ/f I! I 1/ I I f 1/!!! If /N VENTOR I \/l//////////// I l I L. RICHTER AIR COMPRESSOR June 6, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1970 INVENTOR L. RICHTER AIR COMPRESSOR June 6, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 4, 1970 3,667,866 AIR COMPRESSOR Lewis Richter, 1414 E. 29th St., Des Moines, Iowa 50317 Filed Mar. 4, 1970, Ser. No. 16,524 Int. Cl. F04b 23/14 US. Cl. 417-203 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A powered shaft having a propeller, draws air into a passageway through which the shaft extends and the passageway has an outlet in communication with a compressed air chamber. Air is moved through the passageway outlet by an air transfer means which includes a stationary plate having circularly arranged teeth covered by a plate on the shaft which includes a rotatable gear registering with the teeth. An opening through the two plates communicates at times with at least one of the teeth cavities which is sealed as the rotatable plate moves over the cavity whereupon it is then exposed to the compossed air chamber and forced out by the teeth on the gear which then leaves a vacuum in the cavities to receive additional air from the opening communicating with the passageway whereupon the cycle is repeated. The air may be totally drawn into the passageway by the propeller or may enter as a result of external pressures for which appropriate inlet openings are provided. A flywheel may also be provided on the powered shaft to assist in the rotation thereof and in the sealing of the rotatable plate. Vanes may also be provided on the powered shaft in the outlet opening of the compressed air chamber to further assist in the turning of the shaft as air is released from the chamber.

A typical air compressor involves forcing air into a compressed air chamber through the use of high pressures developed by pistons or the like. The efficiency of these systems is low due to the large energy losses resulting from the powered piston working against substantial pressures. The failure of components parts in the conventional air compressor is also a considerable problem.

The air compressor of this invention eliminates the pressure problems present in a conventional air compressor. The air is moved into the compressed air chamber by an air transfer means which operates in a static air environment and thus results in maximum efliciency. A minimum number of component parts are involved which minimizes the cost and maintenance of the air compressor. Regenerative power is exploited to further minimize power requirements for the air compressor.

More specifically, air is drawn into cavities between teeth arranged in a circle and a segmental radial rotatable plate covers the air-filled cavities until the plate is rotated thereby exposing the cavities to the compressed air chamber. A gear on the leading edge of the rotatable plate forces the air out of the cavities into the compressed air chamber and then the rotatable plate covers the evacuated cavities until a radial opening in the rotatable plate registers with the cavities to admit more air from the inlet passageway which in turn is covered by the rotatable plate portion until it again is exposed to the compressed air chamber whereupon the cycle is repeated.

The regenerative power features include a flywheel on the powered shaft driving the propeller in the inlet passageway and the rotatable plate and a vane structure on the powered shaft in the outlet of the compressed air chamber. Additionally, exhaust air from an air hammer,

United States Patent or the like, being powered by the air compressor is channeled back into the inlet of the air passageway for transfer by the transfer means back into the compressed air chamber.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view of the air compressor.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2 rotated ninety degrees.

FIG. 4 is an end view taken along line 44 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 55 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an end view taken along line 77 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the air transfer unit.

The air compressor of this invention is referred to generally in FIG. 1 by the reference numeral 10 and includes a housing 12. A compressed air chamber 14 is provided in the housing which includes an outlet opening 16.

A passageway 18 in the chamber includes a propeller 20 on a shaft 22 powered by an externally located motor or the like 24. A shaft 22 extends through an air transfer unit 26 into the outlet opening 16.

Alternate openings are provided for admitting air into the passageway 18. A pair of valve elements 28 yieldably close converging passageways 30. A spring 32 is mounted on a valve stem 34. The operation of the propeller 20 serves to draw open the valve elements to admit air from the atmosphere. Alternatively, passageways 36 are provided which may be opened to the atmosphere through operation of valves 38 to admit air under pressure from the exhaust of an air jack or the like (not shown) connected to the conduit 40 in communication with the outlet opening 16 in the compressed air chamber 14. A valve 42 is provided for controlling the flow of the air from the outlet opening 16.

The air transfer unit 26 is seen in detail in FIG. 8 and includes a stationary plate 44 secured to the passageway 18 by screws 46. An axial opening 48 is provided in the plate 44 through which the powered shaft 22 extends. Concentrically disposed about the center axis of the plate 44 are teeth 50 having outer edges flush with the adjacent face 52 of the plate 44. The teeth include therebetween cavities 52.

An outer plate 54 which also functions as a flywheel is keyed to the powered shaft 22 and by bolts 56 is connected to a rotatable radial segmental plate 58 having a center opening 60 including a radial portion 62 for registering with the cavities 52 between the teeth 50, as seen in FIG. 5. The rotatable plate 58 includes a leading edge 64 and a trailing edge 66 and a spur gear 68 is positioned in a forwardly facing slot 70 in the leading edge 64 for rotation about a pin 72 extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the plate 58. A cavity 74 is formed in the plate 54 to receive the outer edge of the gear 68. The plate 54 also seals the outer side of the center opening 60 in the plate 58.

Thus, it is seen in operation that air is admitted into the passageway 18 (FIG. 1) through the opening 48 in plate 44 into opening 60 in plate 58 and then into the radial opening portion 62 for registry with teeth 50 (FIG.

) and as indicated by the arrows 78 air fills the cavities 52. As the plate 58 moves to the right as viewed in FIG. 5 the trailing portion of the plate 66 covers the cavities 52 to encapsulate the air as indicated by the A in the cavities 52 under the trailing plate portion 66. As the plate 58 continues to move the trailing edge 66 exposes the cavities 52 allowing the air to leave as indicated by the arrows 84. The leading edge of the plate 58 having the gear 68 forces the air out of the cavites 52 into the compressed air chamber 14 as indicated by the arrows 86. The leading edge portion 64 of the plate 58 then covers the cavities 52 which have been evacuated as indicated by the V in the cavities such that they are ready to receive air from the radial opening 62 when they register with said opening. Similarly, the cavities 88 between the teeth on the gear 68 have been evacuated by intermeshing with the teeth 50*, as indicated by the V in the gear cavities 88.

The air entering the inlet of the passageway 18 through the converging passageways 30 past the valve elements 28 is controlled by a pair of circular plates 90, as seen in FIG. 7, having diametrically oppositely disposed openings 92 for selectively registering with the converging passageways 30 when the plate 90 is in one position as indicated by the solid lines for the openings 92. When the plate 90 has been turned, as indicated by the dash line openings 92, the converging passageways 30 are closed. The plate is rotatable about the valve stem 34-.

The regenerative power contemplated in the air compressor of this invention includes the flywheel 54 on the driving shaft 22 and spiral vanes 94- on the shaft 22 in the outlet opening 16 such that air being discharged from the compressed air chamber 14 serves to assist in driving the shaft 22 thereby reducing the power requirements for the motor 24- or the like. Also, the equipment connected to the outlet conduit 40 being air driven will have an exhaust which may be fed back into the air compressor through the line 36 when the valves 38 are open.

Thus it is seen that the apparatus of this invention minimizes the power requirements by utilizing a novel transfer means for conveying air into a compressed air chamber without pistons or the like operating against high pressures to force the air into a compressed air chamber. The powered shaft 22 rotates the plate 38 to cause this transfer of air without having to overcome high pressure resistance, as in the case of a piston-type compressor. The cavities 52 between the teeth 50 are alternately exposed by the rotating plate 58 to the low pressure air in the passageway 18 and then the high pressure chamber 14 to effect the transfer of air from the passageway to the compressed air chamber. The mating engagement of the component parts in the transfer unit enable each of the parts to operate in sealed relationship to each other and thus prevent leakage of air. The L-shaped retained element 98 on the outer peripheral edge of the plate 58 includes one leg received in a circular recess 100 in the plate 44 to maintain the plates 58 and 44 in mating and sealed relationship relative to each other.

I claim as my invention:

-1. An air compressor comprising,

a compressed air chamber having an inlet and an outlet,

a passageway adapted to be placed in communication with said chamber inlet,

power means for moving air into said passageway through an inlet opening,

an air transfer means for moving air from said passageway into said compressed air chamber,

said air transfer means including a first plate having an opening in communication with said passageway,

a powered second plate rotatable on said first plate and said second plate having an opening in communication with said opening in said first plate,

a plurality of teeth having air cavities therebetween provided between said first and second plates and said second plate covering some of said cavities and exposing other cavities for communication withsaid compressed air chamber, said opening in said second plate being in communication with at least one cavity as said second plate is moved relative to said cavities,

a gear rotatably connected to said second plate for registry with said teeth as said second plate is moved relative to said teeth such that air from said passageway is admitted into said cavities through said opening in said second plate and is sealed in place by said second plate as it moves thereacross and is exposed to communication with said compressed air chamber upon said second plate moving off said cavities, and said gear having teeth registering with said cavities forcing air therefrom to receive air from said passageway upon being placed in communication therewith as said second plate continues to move relative to said cavities.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said teeth and cavities are arranged in a circle and said second plate rotates about the axis of said circle.

3. The structure of claim 2. wherein said opening in said second plate includes a radial portion for registering with at least said one cavity.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said first plate includes a circular recess in which said teeth are positioned flush with the outer surface thereof and said second plate includes portions matingly engaging said first plate and extending over said one of said cavities.

5. The structure of claim 3 wherein said powered second plate and said power means for moving said air into said passageway include a powered shaft extending longitudinally within said passageway and into operative engagement with said second plate and a propeller is provided on said shaft in said passageway for drawing air into said passageway through said inlet opening.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein a flywheel is connected to said shaft for rotation therewith.

7. The structure of claim 5 wherein said shaft extends into the outlet in said pressure chamber and vanes are provided on said shaft in said shaft in said outlet to assist the turning of said shaft as air under pressure leaves said compressed air chamber.

8. The structure of claim 3 wherein said second plate includes leading and trailing edges and said gear is positioned at said leading edge where it includes a leading face exposed to said compressed air chamber, and said radial portion of said opening in said second plate is positioned between said leading and trailing edges of said second plate.

9. The structure of ciaim 8 wherein a third plate is provide on said shaft against said second plate for rotation therewith and opposite said first plate, and said third plate covers the outer end of said opening in said second? plate including said radial portion thereof, and said third plate includes a cavity in which a portion of said gear is positioned whereby said cavity, first and second plates seal said gear except along its leading face.

10.. The structure of claim 8 wherein said second plate is further defined as being a radial segment of less than degrees in length.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,673,527 3/1954 Ashton et al 417-405 X 3,532,441 10/1970 Schofield 4l7203 ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner 

